Sporting Kansas City striker Kei Kamara had to overcome many obstacles during his childhood when Civil War broke out in Sierra Leone. Despite the odds, he's gone on to become one of the top players in Major League Soccer and is beloved in his home country for whom he scored two goals in the Sierra Leone National Team's last game.
Kamara will now join seven other unique athletes as finalists for the 2012 edition of "Courage in Sports". The show, produced by Intersport, celebrates its 22nd year and and the stories of each finalist's inspirational journey will be on display when the one-hour special airs at 4 p.m. CT on November 11 on CBS.
Last year, Intersport introduced a social media element called "America's Choice Honoree," in which the eight nominees are voted upon to determine who best embodies the spirit of virtue, courage and excellence. The winner will be announced during the "Courage in Sports" special.
Voting opened yesterday and is conducted by going to the "Courage in Sports" Facebook page and clicking on the Vote Now! link on the right side of the page. You're allowed to vote once each day, and Kei will need your support. Every week, the two finalists with the fewest votes will be eliminated.
Follow @KeiKamara on Twitter for more from Sporting Kansas City's leading goal scorer and 2011 Humanitarian of the Year.